Casings for reinforced ribbed concrete ceilings



v. MULLE R 4 CASINGS FOR REINFORCED RIBBED CONCRETE CEILINGS Feb. 5, 1963 Filed NOV. 2, 1960 United States PatentO 3,076,247 CASINGS FOR REINFORCED RIBBED CONCRETE CEILINGS Victor Miiller, Nurnberg, Germany; Helena Mueller, heir of said Victor Miiller, deceased Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 66,850 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 6, 1959 4 Claims. (Cl. -1315) The invention relates to casings for reinforced ribbed concrete ceilings comprising a plurality of tub-like or U- shaped casing elements which extend parallel to one another and are connected with one another and with which transverse reinforcing elements are releasably and rigidly connected.

In his application Serial No. 770,380, filed October 29, 1958, now abandoned, applicant has disclosed casings for reinforced ribbed concrete ceilings of the general type contemplated herein and the present disclosure is a continuation in part thereof and is particularly concerned with improvements in the releasable and rigid locking means between the casing members and the transverse reinforcing elements. 7

It is an object of the present invention to provide relea-sable and rigid means in the form of an eccentric lock for connecting the transverse reinforcing elements with the casings in such a manner that the closing of the lock causes the transverse reinforcing element to be pulled up against the bottom of the casing.

As compared to known connecting means, the reinforcing means in accordance withthe invention provides for pressing the transverse reinforcing elements against the bottom of the casing with substantially increased force or for anchoring it with respect to the casing while the eccentric locking means are nevertheless formed in such a manner that they can be manually operated with- Out the application of excessive force. Such connecting means can be made with simple components and may furthermore be constructed in such a manner that the connection cannot release itself or open even under the influence of substantial shocks or vibratory movement of the casing.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification if reference is bad to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through the end of a casing portion with a transverse reinforcing means and eccentric locking means;

FIG. 2 is a section through the casing taken along line AB in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates to a larger scale a detail of the spacing yoke and of a bolt secured thereto.

. The casing structure comprises a plurality of tub-like or U-shaped casing elements 1 which extend parallel to one another. They are releasably connected with one another along their lateral flanges 2 in a known manner not particularly illustrated and are removed after pouring and setting of the concrete of the ceiling; The casing elements proper may be of sheet metal or of another material, for example, artificial material such as plastic. Further details of the construction are described in applicants aforementioned earlier disclosure, Serial No. 770,380.

The transverse reinforcing elements 3 may be in the ends of particular casings as illustrated in the drawings where they serve at the same time also as an engagement or supporting surface for the concrete. They may, however, also be arranged inside the casings. For securingthe transverse reinforcing elements to the casing an eccentric lock is provided which has a pivotable eccentric locking portion 4 and a manipulating member 3,076,247 Patented Feb. 5, 1963 ice 5. The locking portion 4 cooperates with a stud or bolt 6. The pivot point of the eccentric locking portion 4 is defined by the stud 7 which may be a rivet. The eccentric locking portion 4 is provided with a slot 8 and an abutment or engagement surface 9 for effecting the closing movement and the releasing movement. The slot 8, as well as the abutment surface 9, are eccentric with respect to the pivot point of the eccentric locking portion.

The abutment surface 9 is preferablydefined by the edge of the eccentric locking portion and may be placed against a projection so that a pivotal movement of the eccentric locking portion causes the transverse reinforcing element to be lifted from the bottom of the casing or from the concrete. It is preferred in accordance with the invention that this projection be defined by the bolt 6 in which case the eccentric locking portion 4-is slidable with respect to the pivot stud 7, for example, by means of a longitudinal slot 10 in such a manner that optionally the abutment surface 9 or the slot 8 engages the lower or the upper side of the bolt 6 depending on whether removing of the transverse reinforcing element or the locking as illustrated in the drawing is intended.

In order to release the transverse reinforcing element the eccentric locking portion is rotated counterclockwise beginning with the position'illustrated in FIG. 2 until the bolt 6 is no longer in the slot 8. Then the end 10 of the slot 10 is brought into engagement with the stud 7 and the eccentric locking member 4 is rotated clockwise. This brings the abutment surface 9 against the lower side of the bolt 6, thus causing the releasing of the transverse reinforcing element frorn'the casin In this manner the locking operation as wellas the releasing operation are not subject to the discretion of the operator because the forces applied against the transverse reinforcing element or to the casing no longer depend directly on the force applied by the operator, but they are determined by the structural characteristics of the eccentric lock. Furthermore, the installation as well as the release of the transverse reinforcing element with respect to the casing is not only simplified for the operator, but contrary to known arrangements where the releasing is undertaken by pulling at the projecting corners of the transverse reinforcing elements by inserting crowbars or the like, the danger is eliminated that by a coarse manner of workmanship the casing elements, the transverse reinforcing elements or even the completed concrete ceiling might be damaged.

The eccentric locking portion 4 in accordance with the invention can be made as a unitary flat member, for example stamped from sheet metal, or it may be cut together with the abutment surface 9 which extends eccentrically with respect to the pivot point end with the slots 8 and 9.

In accordance with the invention it is furthermore recommended that the eccentric locking portion '4 is formed in such a manner that with the eccentric lock completely tightened in locking position, its center of gravity is located in the proximity of a vertical line CD (FIG. 2) which passes through the pivot point at the stud 7. In this manner it is avoided that when the concrete is subject to shocks or vibrations the eccentric locking portion cannot release itself from the position shown, which could happen if the center of gravity were too far away from line C-D so that shocks on the concrete would cause a corresponding moment of rotation to be applied to a point above the axis C-D.

Furthermore, in accordance with the invention care is taken that when the locking operation is carried out, the transverse reinforcing element 3 is drawn inwardly longitudinally of the casing portion 1, i.e., towards the center of the casing element 1. For this purpose a spacing yoke 1 1 i s fastened to the casing element 1 which has a recess 12 extending in the direction of the center of the casing element 1 and having lateral surfaces 13 (FIG. 3) which extend obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the casing portion. When the closing operation is carried out, the eccentric locking portion 4 comes into engagement with the corresponding lateral surface 13 and owing to the oblique position there it may be displaced towards the center of the casing element. Thus the closing operation or movement as considered in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 1 causes the transverse reinforcing element to be moved by the engagement surfaces 13 to wards the right as well as upwardly by the eccentric effect and thus to attain a predetermined position. In the locking position the eccentric locking portion is firmly against the side 12 of the recess 12. Furthermore the recess 12 serves for reinforcing the spacing yoke 11 and for receiving the head 6' of the bolt 6. The parts 6, 11, and 1 are rigidly connected with one another, preferably by welding,

The pivot stud 7 is preferably in the form of a rivet which is welded to the transverse reinforcing element 3. A tube 14 is advantageously placed around the pivot stud and is likewise welded against member 3 for reinforcement of the stud. Between the end of tube 14 and the head 7' of the stud 7, the eccentric locking portion 4 is guided pivotally by the slot 10, while at the same time it is protected against being lost or misplaced.

Having now described my invention in connection with the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, I do not wish to be limited thereto, but what I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1'. In a casing construction for reinforced ribbed concrete ceilings of the type comprising a plurality of substantially U-shaped casings extending parallel to and connected with one another, a transverse reinforcing element adapted to be rigidly and releasably connected to acasing, double action locking and withdrawing means for said element comprising cooperating members on said casing and on said transverse element including a fixed member and a pivotally mounted member having a handle portion, an elongated slot proximate said handle portion, and a portion having an eccentric conformation on one side operative upon engaging one side of said fixed member, to pullsaid element linearly toward the bottom of said casing to establish engagement between the top of said element and the bottom of said casing and between the sides of'said element and the sides of said casing, and having an eccentric abutment on the side opposite said eccentric conformation movable into engagement with the other side of said.fixed. member for, withdrawing said transverse element from the bottomand from. the sides of said casing.

2 In a casing construction for reinforced ribbed concrete ceilings of the type comprising a plurality of. sub.- stantially U-shaped casings extending parallel, to, and connected with one another, a transverse reinforcing element adapted to be rigidly and releasably.connected to a casing double action locking and withdrawing means for said element comprising cooperating members .on said casing and on said transverse element including a fixed member and a pivotally mounted member having a handle portion, an elongated slot proximate said handle portion, and a portion having an eccentric conformation on one side operative upon engaging one side of said fixed memher, to pull said element linearly toward the bottom of said casing to establish engagement between the top of said element and the bottom of said casing and between the sides of said element and the sides of said casing, and having an eccentric abutment on the side opposite said eccentric conformation movable into engagement with said fixed member for withdrawing said transverse element from the bottom and from the sides of said casing, and having a transverse slot including the other side of said eccentric conformation and extending eccentrically relative to said pivot point and adapted to engage said fixed member, said fixed member being a bolt secured to said casing, and said pivotally mounted member being slidable longitudinally relative to said pivot point thereby providing for selective engagement between said eccentric conformation and said eccentric abutment with said bolt.

3. In a casing construction for reinforced ribbed con: crete ceilings of the type comprising a plurality of substantially U-shaped casings extending parallel to and con-, nected with one another, a transverse reinforcing element adapted to be rigidly and releasably connected to a casing, double action locking and withdrawing means for said element comprising cooperating members on said casing and on said transverse element including a fixed member and a pivotally mounted member having a handle portion, an elongated slot proximate said handle portion, and a portion having an eccentric conformation on one side operative upon engaging one side of said fixed member, to pull said element linearly toward the bottom of said casing to establish engagement between the top of said element and the bottom of said casing and between the sides of said element and the sides of said casing, and having an eccentric abutment on the side opposite said eccentric conformation movable into engagement with the other side of said fixed member for withdrawing said transverse element from the bottom and from the sides of said casing, said casing having a yoke extending transversely thereof and having an indentation extending inwardly and centrally of said casing and said indentation having side surfaces-disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of said casing and said fixed member being a bolt having a head disposed in said recess.

4. A casing structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said pivotally mounted locking member is a unitary member cut out of sheet metal and presenting said elongated slot, said eccentric conformation and said eccentric abutment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 959,103 Bangs May 24, 1910 1,054,353 Keenan Feb. 25, 1913 1,336,867 Sloan Apr. 13, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS 800,917; Germany Dec. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE. OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,076,247 February 5 1963 I Victor Miiller It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 12, before "said" first occurrence insert =--fthe other side of line 14, strike out "the other side 0 0 Signed and sealed this 3rd day of September 1963:

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A CASING CONSTRUCTION FOR REINFORCED RIBBED CONCRETE CEILINGS OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CASINGS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND CONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER, A TRANSVERSE REINFORCING ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE RIGIDLY AND RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO A CASING, DOUBLE ACTION LOCKING AND WITHDRAWING MEANS FOR SAID ELEMENT COMPRISING COOPERATING MEMBERS ON SAID CASING AND ON SAID TRANSVERSE ELEMENT INCLUDING A FIXED MEMBER AND A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED MEMBER HAVING A HANDLE PORTION, AN ELONGATED SLOT PROXIMATE SAID HANDLE PORTION, AND A PORTION HAVING AN ECCENTRIC CONFORMATION ON ONE SIDE OPERATIVE UPON ENGAGING ONE SIDE OF SAID FIXED MEMBER, TO PULL SAID ELEMENT LINEARLY TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF SAID CASING TO ESTABLISH ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE TOP OF SAID ELEMENT AND THE BOTTOM OF SAID CASING AND BETWEEN THE SIDES OF SAID ELEMENT AND THE SIDES OF SAID CASING, AND HAVING AN ECCENTRIC ABUTMENT ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE SAID ECCENTRIC CONFORMATION MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID FIXED MEMBER FOR WITHDRAWING SAID TRANSVERSE ELEMENT FROM THE BOTTOM AND FROM THE SIDES OF SAID CASING. 